HOTSEAT: Send us your questions for the Youth MP

IN THE Hotseat next week will be teenager Ellie James, who recently became Member of the Youth Parliament for Swindon.

The 16-year-old from Grange Park, went head to head with three other candidates in February for the chance to make a difference to the town.

And when her name was announced, Ellie burst in to tears.

The Lydiard Park Academy student plans to use her next two years of her term living up to her strapline, ‘Education then Procreation’.

She was inspired to campaign for teenagers to choose education over parenthood after her half-sister, Lucy James, gave up her dreams of working with animals at the age of 19 to bring up her children.

Ellia only recently became interested in politics because of the power to create positive change it can offer. She had originally wanted to go into fashion but then found a new passion for politics.
More than 4,800 votes were cast by young people in the election.

Ellie works with her deputy member, Wilf Steenbergen-Cockerton from Kingsdown School, to bring change to the town.

If you have a question for Ellie, email newsdesk@swindonadvertiser.co.uk with the subject ‘Hotseat’, tweet at @swindonadver or write to us at Newspaper House, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE.